Cottar's, Africa's oldest family-run safari company, has launched an innovative five-day educational experience for teenagers, specifically designed around the UK's new Natural History GCSE curriculum. Olivia Palamountain reports

Cottar's Safaris will debut "Tracks for Tomorrow" in October 2025 at its 1920s Camp in Kenya's Olderkesi Conservancy in the Maasai Mara.

Targeting young people aged 14-18 with hands-on conservation learning, the programme represents a unique approach to educational travel, with activities specifically aligned to Natural History GCSE educational goals including observation, field studies, sustainability, and ecosystem awareness. Participants receive a certificate of completion, creating a lasting milestone in their conservation education.

The programme launches as the UK introduces its new Natural History GCSE, creating a timely educational tourism opportunity that bridges classroom learning with real-world conservation experience in one of Africa's most significant wildlife areas.  "In the spirit of David Attenborough's words - 'No one will protect what they don't care about; and no one will care about what they have never experienced' - Tracks for Tomorrow gives children the chance to connect meaningfully with nature in ways that are unforgettable, educational, and fun," says co-owner Louise Cottar.

The experience is hosted by Doug Nagi, one of Kenya's top Gold-level guides who combines certifications as an ethnobotanist, astronomer, and conservation expert - an unusual combination of expertise in safari guiding.Innovative programme elements include wild foraging for edible plants and insects, seedball reforestation projects, and a choice between deep-diving into cheetah conservation or raptor studies with daily updates on 500 monitored nests.

The programme blends traditional Maasai cultural education through "Warrior School" with modern conservation challenges, including sustainability tasks where teens design eco-friendly camps or develop ideas to reduce travel carbon footprints.Founded in 1919, Cottar's Safaris operates as a fifth-generation family business with a century-long commitment to African conservation and community support.

The four-night experience costs $14,180 (approximately £10,575) for a family of four, including accommodation in newly renovated family tents with private guides and vehicles to ensure personalised attention and flexible pacing.